Folding egg-crate



:(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet -1.

C. TUCKER. FOLDING EGG CRATE.

No. 570,574. Patented Nov. 3, 1896.

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2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. TUCKER. FOLDING-EGG CRATE.

Patented Nov. 3-, 1896.

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'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- CLINGER TUCKER, OF BEST, OHIO.

FOLDING EGG-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,574, dated November 3, 1896.

Application filed April 7, 1896. Serial No. 586,574- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLINGER TUCKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Best, in the county of Adams and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Egg-Crates and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to knockdown or folding crates, principally used for the shipping of eggs; and the object of the device is to provide a crate having the usual compartments and fillers and filler portions, whereby said crate may be filled with eggs for shipment and the empty crate folded with the partitions and fillers inclosed therein, thereby greatly reducing the size of the package on its return journey to the shipper; and to these ends the novelty consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved crate as it appears filled and ready for shipment. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same empty and folded for return to the shipper. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the double hook used in securing the cover when the crate is filled and also when folded. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the crate with the cover removed.

A is the cover, and it is provided with the usual depending ends a a and sides a a, which fit snugly over the top of the crate B, and to the ends a a are pivoted flat hooks 0, one of which is secured by a screw to the inside of the ends a a, so that its longer hook end 0 engages with the staple b when the crate is filled, and the shorter hook end 0 extends upwardly inside of the cover out of the way, and when the crate is empty and folded, as shown in- Fig. 2, the short end 0 engages the staple b and the longer one 0 extends upwardly out of the way.

The sides D D are hinged at d d, and the hinged portions d d fold inwardly upon the similar1y-hinged ends E E, the usual partition forming the two compartments being first removed and laid flat in the bottom of the crate. The fillers are then compressed and with their independent partitions are laid in the crate. The cover A is now replaced and the hook 0 turned so that its shorter end'c' engages with the staple b and the empty folded crate is in condition to be returned to the shipper.

The hook O is of peculiar construction, its shank being provided with an orifice, through which a screw passes to secure it to the inside of the end of the cover, the longer end 0 corresponding to the distance between the screw and the staple b when the crate is filled and the cover in place, and the shorter end to the distance between said screw and staple when the cover is placed on the folded crate. The forward end 6 of each hook is beveled, as shown, to facilitate its insertion in a snug manner in the staple. The tongue port-ion e is provided with an integral spring 6 the free end of which is pressed downward in the act of inserting the hook in the staple, and after it is inserted the end of the spring flies up and prevents the accidental withdrawal of the hook from the staple during transportation, and said form of hook is peculiarly adapted to this class of goods, as the same hook is utilized to lock the cover on the crate in either an open or closed condition.

To release the hook C, it is only necessary to press the spring down and withdraw it from the staple- When the crate is'ready for filling, the folding ends and sides are held in place by the hooks and staples i, as shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, isv 1. A folding egg-crate, consisting of the 0 crate proper, having removable partition, fillers and filler-partitions and hinged ends and sides, the former provided with staples b, in combination with the cover A, provided with the double-end hook 0, having integral springs e substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A folding egg-crate, consisting of the folding body portion A, the rigid ends of which are provided with staples b, in combination with the pivoted book 0, having shanks of unequal length, the forward end 6 of each hook portion being beveled and 

